WATER MAGIC
Water magic is regarded as similar to Air magic in many ways, especially in the kinship mages from the two classes have with each other in terms of fluidity. Both elements revolve around their acceptance of the constantly changing state of nature, and as such tend to cohabitate quite well. Where the two differ, however, is that were air mages are typically keen to jump ahead and orchestrate that change of course on their terms, water mages are usually more content to allow the world to make its own changes, and will let that effect them as they see fit, changing their course to nature’s whims instead of changing nature to suit them. All water mages are capable of holding their breath for longer periods of time, due to their tendency to need to go underwater for one reason or another. With enough practice, some mages can even come to learn to breathe water as if they had a set of gills.
Water mages are typically in tune with the state of others and themselves. Given that most species are greatly composed of water, it’s easy for a water mage to feel waves of emotion radiating from others, and this means that many water mages are blessed with strong emotional intelligence. Whether they use this gift for good or less good is up to the individual.
ESHVI
PATRON DEITY
SEAL
PATRON BEAST
ICE BLUE & NAVY
CLASS COLOURS
WAVEWATCHERS
Wavewatchers have a reputation for being the “spaciest” of the subclasses. It is difficult, many have expressed, to keep up appearances in a social setting when one is constantly being bombarded by the emotions of others. As water is in everything, Wavewatchers can easily pick up on the “tides” of feelings emanating from anyone around them, particularly those they are close with, and Wavewatchers tend to keep those they care about very close.
These mages value their loved ones above all, and will often risk their own comfort to ensure their closest friends and family’s. This can often be to their detriment, becoming self-sacrificing martyrs for even the smallest of issues, or going to such great lengths to protect their loved ones from harm that they harm others. However, it can also be their greatest strength. Wavewatchers create circles around them so loving that it is hard for them to truly feel that their self-sacrificing is a sacrifice at all, and they have no issue being the friend that others come to talk to should they need anything.
More extroverted Wavewatchers will have large, close-knit groups of a thousand friends and family members to look out for and that look out for them, and Wavewatchers who are less so may limit their circles to only two or three members, or one member and perhaps a dog, but in speaking to Wavewatchers it is hard to locate any difference between how strongly they feel about their loved ones, no matter the size.
No matter their enjoyment of social settings, almost all Wavewatchers can appreciate the beauty of a marine environment, and can often be found in groups on beaches or riverbanks, or diving into the depths of a reef to appreciate all their element has to offer.
ICEBLOODS
Icebloods are a complicated group. With a reputation of being movie-tier villains, despite this very rarely being true, this subclass often either skews towards being the most entertaining person at whatever function they happen to be attending, or acting completely cold around other people. The truth is that all Icebloods have the capacity to be as charming as ever, it’s just a matter of social comfort. Many Icebloods find themselves more at ease when they are in more familiar, intimate groups of just a few people, or when they can lose themselves in a larger group with a sea of people united under a common goal, are not the centre of attention for long periods of time and are not expected to make the bigger decisions for a group. However, they also value having their say and won't tolerate unfairness. Icebloods are typically defenders of democracy in a group, ensuring everyone gets their say, even if it’s not a say they agree with.
Icebloods are usually level-headed, but it is common for some to have sharp tempers or mean streaks when they feel there is an injustice around them. This is likely where the aforementioned mean streak originates from. They are a people deeply concerned with what is right in their point of view.Icebloods like to understand what makes people tick, and like to feel in control of their situations. A strong understanding of the emotions of others is a particular boon to them.
ABILITIES
Wavewatchers, predictably, are greatly in tune with the element of water in its most neutral form. One of the first skills young mages are taught is the manipulation of smaller bodies of water such as puddles, which are quickly increased to ponds, lakes, rivers, and even parts of the ocean. Waves are an easy first step, from small splashes to roaring, surf-able beasts, and, for a strong enough Wavewatcher, tsunamis and hurricanes. An air mage and a Wavewatcher combined can create serious damage. Geysers are friends of Wavewatchers, who have no trouble setting them off with just a flick of a wrist or a hand to the ground where there might be a burst lying in wait.
Wavewatchers can communicate naturally with water nymphs, kelpies, or nøkks, who are more likely to take a liking to them and accept offers of friendship or barters for goods from their ranks. It is not uncommon for Wavewatchers referring to themselves as “horse girls” to reveal themselves to actually have tamed kelpies to ride instead of the standard pony. More predictably, Wavewatchers also have the ability to communicate with fish, marine mammals, and some seabirds.
While Wavewatchers have great power in and around water, it’s only natural for the absence of it to cause issues. Lack of moisture in a Wavewatcher’s environment can render their powers nearly useless, and even more skilled Wavewatchers who can normally conjure water just from the particles in the air can struggle with more severe desert settings. Most Wavewatchers do their best to avoid them altogether, lest they dry out entirely. Wavewatchers in an emergency with complete lack of water can extract water from the bodies of plants, animals, other people, and themselves. This process is taxing and potentially dangerous, but pulling water from one’s own blood has proven to be lifesaving more than once. When wiped out of magical energy entirely, as tends to happen with Wavewatchers who make big shows of their abilities or who are away from water for long periods of time, an easy fix for these mages is a good soak in a bathtub or pond, whichever happens to be closest.
ABILITIES
Icebloods, predictably, run colder than the average person, and are often cool to the touch, though perfectly comfortable in this state. An Iceblood in a warm environment is more than likely to be uncomfortable, and almost none are immune to a little whining, perhaps justifiably so. A warm Iceblood, on the other hand, is often a dangerous sign of unhealthiness, and some Icebloods are so sensitive to this change of temperature that they can “melt” and go into something of a comatose state until they are cooled down. This puts them often at odds with Torchbearers, who are almost exactly the opposite. While an intense conversation with a Torchbearer may end with the area around being scorched, an overexcited Iceblood may begin to freeze or exhibit non-damaging signs of ice on skin and hair. A depressed or ill Iceblood, meanwhile, may begin to display frostbite symptoms. A term often used by other Water mages on an Iceblood that is headed this route is "freezer-burnt". This is a term not often appreciated.
Besides their body temperature, Icebloods have a natural ability to warp and control ice, whether this means moving around some ice on a sidewalk to encourage the next person to walk over it to slip, or completely freezing a small pond, an Iceblood can do it. Almost any liquid can be frozen and manipulated by an Iceblood, and some are even able to animate and control them as sort of “avatars” to aid them, either in battle or with everyday tasks. As is the water mage way, Icebloods are also more palatable to nøkks and nixies than the non-water mage, and some water spirits will even allow themselves to be frozen for the opportunity to be slightly more corporeal and travel outside of water.
There is a culture amongst Icebloods as well of creating one’s own weapons. While some are skilled enough to create flawless spears, shields, swords and arrows from ice, this is a skill that takes much practice and time to hone, and some Icebloods simply settle for coating existing weapons in ice, inflicting unwieldy and painful cases of frostbite on whomever they are able to hit. Many Icebloods are also able to create temporary armour in this way. It tends to melt quickly, but stronger mages may summon a layer of permafrost to keep it around a little longer.
Icebloods also have some ability to manipulate weather, quite similar to a Cloudturner’s, though limited mostly to snow, hail, and sleet and in smaller bouts. However, a very strong Iceblood is more than capable of creating a small blizzard or heavy, inconvenient sleet, given enough passion. This, along with major freezing of the ground and people around them, is quite common when an Iceblood is angered enough.
